Mrs. Hutson, Mrs. Marzella, Mrs. Stroud, Mrs. Wilson, and Mrs. Mitchell were each a recipient for a grant award from the Baldwin EMC through their Operation Round Up Star Light Award Program. This is an educational grant program designed to provide support to teachers for the direct purpose of improving learning through a specific lesson and/or project in the classroom using innovative or creative techniques.

Mrs. Hutson will be using her award to replace the kiln for our Art Department. We are very excited to be able to use it for more clay projects for all of our classes.

Mrs. Marzella and Mrs. Stroud will be purchasing books about American history and elections. The children will work in mini book clubs as they read and report on their learning with their books. They will extend this lesson into a discussion on the Catholic Principles of Voting using an Our Sunday Visitor publication called "Talking to Kids about Elections and Current Events". Their classes will evaluate the seven key themes the USCCB wrote about in the document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.

Mrs. Wilson will subscribe to Time for Kids magazine in print and digital format, as well as purchasing four games to use in her literacy centers that will focus on reading sequence, cause and effect, general knowledge, and strategy. 

Mrs. Mitchell will be using her grant award to fund the Jr. High writing project in each grade.The sixth grade students will read and analyze numerous fairy tales, and then write a twisted version of that same tale. Seventh graders will research five regions of the world (World Mission Rosary regions). They will write about the regions in letters and fables that will be sent to family members. After reading, analyzing, and evaluating American folklore: Native American, African-American, and tall tales, the eighth grade students will create original tales based on their interpretations of the tales they have evaluated. Once the students have completed their stories, they will work in the computer lab, art lab, and the classroom to create their books. This process will challenge students to use their imagination, write creatively, and work cooperatively to produce their books. This project will take the writing process and technology skills students are learning in class and transfer them to a real world writing situation. 

Members of Baldwin EMC round each participating member’s electric bill up to the next dollar, and the extra cents from each bill is collected and placed in the Baldwin Electric Membership Foundation to provide funding through their Operation Round Up Star Light Award Program. We thank them for their support of our teachers and Christ the King Catholic School.